UK to designate Russia’s Wagner Group as a ‘terrorist’ organisation 

The United Kingdom is set to designate the Russian mercenary Wagner Group as a ‘terrorist,’ organisation, adding its name alongside other proscribed entities such as Hamas and Boko Haram.

The government said, 6 September, that Home Secretary Suella Braverman ‘has today laid before Parliament a draft order to proscribe Wagner Group under the Terrorism Act 2000. Wagner Group is a proxy military force of Vladimir Putin’s Russia, which operates across the globe.’

It said, ‘Once agreed, the order will come into force on 13 September, making it a criminal offence to belong to, encourage support for, assist or use the logo of that group. Certain proscription offences can be punishable by up to 14 years in prison, which can be handed down alongside or in place of a fine.’

Braverman described Wagner as ‘a violent and destructive organisation which has acted as a military tool of Vladimir Putin’s Russia overseas. While Putin’s regime decides what to do with the monster it created, Wagner’s continuing destabilising activities only continue to serve the Kremlin’s political goals. They are terrorists, plain and simple – and this proscription order makes that clear in UK law. Wagner has been involved in looting, torture and barbarous murders. Its operations in Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa are a threat to global security.’

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/russian-wagner-group-declared-terrorists